Apparatus for distributing metal particles over the roll gaps of rolling mills



June 25, 1968 E. GEHRING ETAL APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING METAL PARTICLES OVER THE ROLL GAPS OF ROLLING MILLS Filed Feb. 14, 1966 United States Patent 3,389,430 APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING METAL PARTICLES OVER THE ROLL GAPS 0F ROLLING MILLS Eckard Gehring, Dusseldorf, Kaiserswerth, Karl-Heinz Bernhardt, Hilden, and Ulf Geier, Osterrath-Bovert, Germany, assignors to Schloemann Ahtiengesellschaft, Dusseldorf, Germany, a German company Filed Feb. 14, 1966, Scr. No. 526,990 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 15, 1965, Sch 36,540 2 Claims. (Cl. 18-9) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for the uniform distribution of hot metal particles over the length of the roll gap of a rolling mill for the production of strips or sections from metal particles, wherein the metal particles are supplied to the roll gap by a preferably roof-shaped swinging conveyor channel or shaker-loader, arranged with its discharge end (the breadth of which corresponds to the roll breadth) above the roll gap, and a preferably wedge-shaped plate is mounted above the swinging conveyor channel, to limit the depth of flow of the particles.

This invention rel-ates to apparatus for the uniform distribution of metal particles over the length of the roll gap of rolling mills for the production of strips or sections, particularly by the welding method, wherein the metal particles, before being fed into the roll gap are heated, for instance in a continuous-heating or pusher-type furnace, or are fed to the roll gap, from the apparatus of their production, in one heat. Apparatus for the uniform distribution of the metal particles is required when the roll breadth of the section is greater than the feeding breadth of the current of particles, coming for instance from the furnace outlet. In order to obviate rather lengthy waiting times of the metal particles in a hopper above the roll gap, a minimum filling depth of the metal particles above the roll gap is requisite. In addition to this, in order to attain a uniform texture of the finish-rolled product over its entire breadth, the waiting times of the individual particles in front of the roll gap must be kept equal to one another over the entire breadth of the rolls, in order that loss of heat during the waiting time may remain the same for all the metal particles.

It would be obvious to design such distributing apparatus in such a way that it acts directly upon the metal particles located in the roll gap, and would ensure a uniform distribution thereof over the roll gap. Such apparatus might consist of a worm extending over the roll gap, or of a surface moving rapidly to and fro. Owing to the lateral heating action of the metal particles, however, a more reliable working of such apparatus would not be ensured. Moreover such apparatus cannot work reliably except with relatively large filling depths, so that their introduction is only possible to a limited extent, even when rolling cold metal particles.

The object of the invention is to enable an effective and uniform transverse distribution of the metal particles over the roll breadth of the roll gap to be reliably carried out, both at high roll speeds and with low filling levels of the metal particles above the roll gap, and that the participating means do not impair the visibility conditions in the region of the roll gap, and are not a hindrance when changing the rolls.

According to the invention this is attained by the feature that the metal particles, before being fed into the roll gap, are first uniformly distributed transversely to 3,389,430 Patented June 25, 1968 correspond to the roll breadth. The transverse distribution of the metal particles is advantageously effected by providing, in front of the roll gap, a shaker-loader or swinging delivery channel, the breadth of which, at least at the outlet end, corresponds to the breadth of the rolls. By the shaking effect which the vibration channel exerts upon the metal particles, these are uniformly distributed over the entire breadth of the vibration channel.

In order to accelerate the distributing operation upon the swinging conveyor channel, a stripping plate or stricker plate is arranged above the swinging conveyor channel in such a way that the passage remaining open between the swinging conveyor channel and the stripping plate corresponds to the required cross section of the flow of particles in this region. The stripping plate is preferably bent to an arrow shape, in order to promote a lateral flow of the metal particles upon the conveyor channel.

The transverse distribution of the metal particles upon the conveyor channel also admits of b ing; advantageously promoted by arranging, upon the swinging conveyor channel, glide beads which steer the metal particles, particularly in the direction of the lateral boundaries of the swinging conveyor channel.

In a further development of the invention the swinging conveyor channel is of roof-shaped construction in the region of the point of impact of the metal. particles coming from the continuous-heating furnace. This has the special advantage that by utilising the kinetic energy of the metal particles, these are distributed laterally, immediately after the impact upon the conveyor channel, to the margins thereof. Such a pro-distribution of the metal particles proves advantageous, particularly upon the over-all length of the conveyor channel. To attain a definite transverse distribution of the metal particles upon the conveyor channel it is advantageous if the conveyor channel co-operates with a collecting channel, rhythmically sweeping over its breadth and equipped with an independently constructed drive. In this case the aim of the swinging conveyor channel substantially consists in uniformly distributing the metal particles in the longitudinal direction of the swinging conveyor channel. The additional arrangement of such a collecting channel has the further advantage that in the event of a disturbance of the rolling operation the metal particles can be withdrawn laterally from the swinging conveyor channel, so that the flow of particles to the rolling mill can be effectively interrupted.

Furthermore this collecting channel can be utilised for the dosing of the metal particles. For this purpose it would merely be necessary to vary the amplitude of its oscillation in such a way that any excess quantity of metal particles is guided into containers arranged laterally of the conveyor channel.

Constructional examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a rolling-mill plant in the region of the end of the furnace;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the swinging conveyor channel or shaker-loader; and

FIGURE 2a shows a section on the line Ila-Ila in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3 corresponds to FIGURE 1, a collecting channel being arranged between the furnace outlet and the swinging conveyor channel for effecting the transverse distribution of the metal particles; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the region of the swinging conveyor channel of FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 1 and 3, by 1 is denoted the continuousheating or pusher-type furnace, constructed as a rotary tubular furnace, for heating the metal particles 2, which m9 are welded, in the 'roll gap 3 of the rolls 4 of a rolling mill, not further illustrated, into a section, in the present case a strip 5. In order that the metal particles 2, above the roll gap 3, may be distributed uniformly over the breadth of the rolls, there is arranged, between the pair of rolls 4 and the rotary tubular furnace 1, a swinging conveyor channel or shaker-loader 6, with a drive 7. The part 8 of the swinging conveyor channel, which is exposed to the metal particles, is made from heat-proof material. The part 8 is roof-shaped in the region of the point 9 (FIGURES 2 and 2a), where the metal particles strike against it, in order that the metal particles, by utilising their kinetic energy while impinging upon the transverse conveyor channel, may already be predistributed towards the margins 10. By a stripping plate or striker plate 11, arranged like a wedge above the swinging conveyor channel, and by upwardly projecting guide beads 12, the transverse distribution upon the swinging conveyor channel is brought about. The region between the furnace outlet and the rolling mill is surrounded with a protective hood 14, which is provided with a pi e connection 15 for the supply thereto of protective or heating gas. The stripping plate 11 may conveniently be secured by its ends to the protective hood 14, so as to limit, to the desired extent, the depth of the flow of particles.

The part 8 of the swinging conveyor channel is supported by resilient arms upon the part 6, and is rhythmically oscillated in a longitudinal direction by the drive 7, which may, for instance, in the usual Way, be a magnet coil excited by alternating current.

In FIGURE 3, between the furnace 1 and the swinging conveyor channel 6, is arranged a collecting channel 16, which is secured overhung upon a shaft 17, and is moved rhythmically to and fro through an angle over the breadth of the swinging conveyor channel by mechanism including an eccentric diagrammatically indicated at 18. In this way the metal particles 2 are uniformly distributed over the breadth of the swinging conveyor channel, so that the task of the swinging conveyor channel now consists merely in distributing the m tal particles uniformly in the longitudinal direction of the swinging conveyor channel. By deflecting the collecting channel into the position 16 (FIGURE 4), the metal particles can be brought laterally out of reach of the swinging conveyor channel, in the event of a disturbance of the rolling operation for example, and, with the co-operation of a discharging means not shown, a chute for example, can be removed from the immediate neighbourhood of the 4. rolling-mill plant. In the same way, partial amounts of the flow of particles can be continuously removed, so that the collecting channel serves at the same time as a dosing device for the flow of particles.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for uniformly distributing hot metal particles along the roll gap of a rolling mill for the production of strips or sections, comprising: a swinging conveyor channel located with its outlet end above the roll gap, the swinging conveyor channel being of roof-shap d construction at the position where the metal particles impinge upon it, and the breadth of the swinging conveyor channel at least at its outlet end, corresponding to the breadth of the rolling-mill rolls, a wedge-shaped striker plate mounted just above the swinging conveyor channel for distributing the particles along the said channel and limiting the depth of their flow, and upwardly directed divergent guide beads provided on the swinging conveyor channel between the position where the metal particles impinge upon it and its outlet end.

2. Apparatus for uniformly distributing hot metal particles along the roll gap of a rolling mill for the production of strips or sections, comprising: a swinging conveyor channel located with its outlet end above the roll gap and extending over the entire breadth of the rolls, an eccentrically driven reciprocating collecting channel for charging the swinging conveyor channel with m tal particles, and a striker plate following the reciprocating collecting channel for distributing the metal particles in the longitudinal direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,037,242 6/1962 Endier 189 3,309,735 3/1967 Gehring 18-9 789,984 5/1905 Macklind 18--1 X 1,073,381 9/1913 Wolle et al. 2,314,062 3/1943 Alvey et al. 1810 X 3,039,137 6/1962 Smith et al 189 X 3,063,391 11/1962 Johnston et al 18--1 X FOREIGN PATENTS 251,285 5/1963 Australia. 1,123,104 6/1959 France.

771,630 4/1957 Great Britain. 1,013,066 8/1957 Germany.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner. 

